The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has released an official statement in reaction to a court ruling that invalidates its registration with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The NDC said, the association, which is the Peace Movement Party (PMP), “that filed the complaint is unknown to us”.
NDC said, INEC refused to register it as a Political Party in December, 2025, and it proceeded to the Federal High Court, where its “constitutional right to freedom of association was upheld”, and the country’s Electoral Body was “compelled” to register the Party, “which INEC did”.
The court ruling on the deregistration of NDC was given by Honourable Justice Isah Dashen of the Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja, Kogi State in the morning of Friday 26 June, 2026.
The NDC said, it had to swiftly react after it received the information “that His Lordship made an order setting aside the court’s earlier decision of December 2025”.
The Statement signed by Sen. Moses Cleopas Zuwoghe, National Chairman, Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), on Friday 26 June, 2026, reads: “Our attention has been drawn to a ruling by the Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja this morning, wherein His Lordship, Honourable Justice Isah Dashen, gave a ruling on an application filed by an unregistered association known as Peace Movement Party.
“The public knows that by December 2025, the Nigeria Democratic Congress as an association complained of INEC’s refusal to register us as a political party, whereupon we proceeded to the Federal High Court. The Federal High Court upheld our constitutional right to freedom of association under the Constitution and compelled INEC to register us, which INEC did.
“Since then, we have started political activities, embarked on the registration of members, held congresses from ward to national levels, held conventions, and concluded primaries to all offices following INEC’s timetable. We have been fully participating in all INEC activities without let or hindrance.
“The association that filed the complaint is unknown to us. The Peace Movement Party (PMP) is not a registered political party in Nigeria. They claimed, in a motion (not even a substantive suit or appeal), that the court should set aside its earlier judgment on the purported ground that, in 2015, they had sought registration as a political party with the victory sign as their symbol and were denied.
“Furthermore, the court, having delivered a final judgment in our suit against INEC, had become functus officio. The court had also dealt with all related issues concerning associations claiming they wanted to use the same symbol and colours. The court, in its judgment, overruled INEC when those issues were raised, and there is no appeal against that judgment.
“Therefore, we are surprised that, on an application by an association claiming that it wanted to register as a political party with the victory sign in 2015—an association that is not a registered political party and is not seeking registration now to participate in the current political process—His Lordship came to the conclusion that they have locus standi, and furthermore, that he has jurisdiction to do what he did.
“Accordingly, we have been informed that His Lordship made an order setting aside the court’s earlier decision of December 2025.”
Following its deregistration, the NDC instructed its team of lawyers to “immediately” head to the Court of Appeal, and assured Nigerians the “NDC has not been deregistered”.
The Statement further reads: “There was no order directing our deregistration. However, we are dissatisfied with the decision that has been made, and we have instructed our team of lawyers to immediately proceed to the Court of Appeal to challenge the jurisdiction and propriety of His Lordship’s order.
“We assure the general public, and particularly our candidates at all levels, that our party is on course. The NDC has not been deregistered, and we are challenging today’s order at the Court of Appeal as soon as possible. We have no doubt that justice will be done.
“We condemn efforts by those who seek to shrink the democratic space and stifle opposition voices and alternatives. Nigerians have a right to a full range of opinions, ideas, and alternatives, and political platforms and candidates should be allowed to participate in the 2027 general election process, which has already gone midway.
“It is too late for anyone to attempt to use the judiciary to derail or narrow Nigeria’s multi-party democratic space.”
